Package



March 16, 1954 T. R. BAXTER PACKAGE Filed Nov. so, 194e C. www-fir Patented Mar. 16, 1954 PACKAGE Thomas R. Baxter, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 30, 1949, Serial No. 130,201

This invention relates, generally, to new and useful improvements and innovations in packages wherein the contents are in the form of a compressible stack of individual tissues. More specifically, the invention relates to packages lcontaining stacks ci folded cellulosic cleansing tissues, which packages are of a size and type adapted to be carried on the person in a garment pocket or in a handbag.

Disposab1e cellulosic cleansing tissues, such as those sold commercially under the trade-mark Kleenex, were initially sold in cardboard cartons or boxes of a size and rigidity which did not permit them tc he carried on the person or in a handbag. As the use of such tissues increased, a demand was created for a smaller package of a type adapted to be carried in a garment pocked or in an ordinary sized handbag. The previous packages for these tissues being of a rigid, nondeformable type, were not suitable for carrying on the person, even when reduced substantially in size.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is the provision of a package containing a compressible stack of individual tissues, preferably cellulosic type cleaning tissues, which package is non-rigid and particularly adapted to be carried in a garment pocket or in a handbag.

An important object of the invention is a nonrigid package of cleansing tissues which are retained in a compressed stack and adapted to be withdrawn through an elongated opening provided by a weakened line in a continuous type film envelope drawn taut or stretched around the stack.

Still another object of the inventionfis a nonrigid package of individual tissues arranged in a compressible stack and enclosed in an envelope of stretchable lm material, a weakened line being provided in the envelope across the top of the stack but not extending down the sides thereof so that the weakened line upon being separated permits the individual tissues to be withdrawn Without permitting the shape of the envelope to be lost or destroyed. Y s

An important object of the invention is anonrigid package,4 containingfa stack. of cleansing tissues compressed within an envelope formed .of elastic or stretchable continuouslm material, such as polyethylene, a panel of relatively rigid material located at the bottom of the stack serving to prevent excessivedeformation of the packages. 4

Certain other objects of the invention will in part be` obvious and Willinxpart appear hereinafter...

`For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention, reference may now be had to the foglowing detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a non-rigid package of cleansing tissues constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the package of Fig. 1 in opened condition and illustrating the removal of an individual cleansing tissue therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing diagrammatically the fully compressed condition of the stack of individual tissues in the unopened package;

Fig. 4 is a sectiona1 View corresponding to Fig. 3 and showing diagrammatieally the released condition of the stack of tissues after a number of them have been withdrawn from the package;

Fig. 5 is a perspective, partly broken away, view of a package forming device in opened condition, which may be used in forming packages in accordance with this invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken transversely through the apparatus of Fig. 5 showing the nal operation in forming therein the package shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates, generally, a non-rigid package of cleansing tissues. Preferably, the package 5 is of pocket size so that it may be carried in the pocket of a garment such as a coat, or in a ladys handbag.

The package 5 comprises a compressible stack of individual tissues 6, such as cellulosic cleansing tissues. These tissues are individually folded to conform to the dimensions of the package 5 and then are stacked one on the other as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the package 5 is opened, the individual tissues in the stack may be removed through an elongated opening l.

The stack of tissues E is supported on the bottom by a cardboard panel or insert 8 which prevents undue deformation of the package 5 and maintains the stack of tissues properly aligned therewithin. It will be noted that the panel 8 has dimensions slightly less than the corresponding dimensions of the stack of tissues so that the peripheral edge of the panel 8 does not extend all the Way to the bottom edges of the stack of tissues.

The tissues 6 in stacked form are enveloped or encased in the package 5 in an envelope I0 formed of continuous nlm material. It has been found that polyethylene is the preferred'lm material .for this .purposesince it has the proper amount of stretch or elasticity and it may be II extend only across the top of the package but"V In this way, .the4

not down its opposite ends. elongated slot opening 'I, which is formed by separating the lm alongithe Weaken'edline'I I, is terminated so as not to extendidown the opposite ends of the package. With' the' side walls and ends of the package thus being maintained intact, the envelope I maintainssthelshapeof the package 5 after being opened and even after.

several of the individualtissues 6 have' beenv r'emoved.

The stack-of tissues 6 Iwithin each package-5 is under compression Whichis maintainedby-the tautnessof thefenvelope I0-." As'successiveltissues are withdrawn fromY` thel stackafter" the package has'beenppened; the vstack expands or bulksto takefup theslack so that a substantial portion of the individual-tissues can'rbe removed from each stackand yet the packagewillbe full, although not? as dense asv whenA initially packaged'. The-'expanded condition-of the'stack after a number of tissues have beeniwithdrawn is shown in Fig. 4, whereas,` the initial! compressed conditionof tli'estack when the package 5A isclsed and before any tissues-have been Withdrawn, is shown in Fig. 3'.'

In Figs. lthrough 4^the reference numeral I2 designates -a peripheral'bead which l is `formed in sealing the envelope' Ill during' theV packaging operation. The bead I2? not onlyprovides a strong andl durable! seal'between the two portions oilmorming the envelope' ID-,butit also serves asa reinforcing elementto maintain'the shape and congurationfof the-packagedJ Onelsatisfactory method of forming the packages.` 5'will be ldescribed in connection with' f Figs. 5: and 6 ofthe-drawings. InFig.v5-atwo-part package forming device is indicated''generally-iat |31 compri'sing a .bottomv section- Iandr a; cover section I5;v The bottomsectionl-H is in thefform of an open receptacle havin'ga-depthand length andn widthu corresponding: to tliedimensions of the package. to bei formed. Connecting.' pins IB--I project from opposite sides of the section I4 so as -tol lit! into ears II providedltherefon on thedsidesof-the cover.' sectiony I5, as'- shown in Fig. v6. Inthisfiway the sectioni I 5l issecured` in alignment on theA bottom section` I4. withrthe bottom edge: I8A ofV the upper section. tting against the upper. edge:2fofthefse'ction I4.

AL U-shaped'i orchannel-shaped section: 2I extends lengthwise within the upper` section- I5- of the.. package: forniingA device I3-ry with? ther bottom oi the channel being approximately even. with thebottomedge I.` Itwillbefnotedlthat there is a peripheral margin or spacef22. betweenlthe bottom edge` of the channel 4section- 2.I. andthe bottom edge I8.`

In forming the package 5y using: the device I3. arsheetof` continuous lm material, .such aspolyethylene, is iirstl laid over` the'botto'm section- I4 and then a stack of the individual.tissues.6 is placed'on this sheet and theiupper section. I5' is used f to compress the y-iilmf 23 andthe stack .into the cavity, of the bottom` sectionA I4. A'. cover sheet 24' (Fig; 6). of polyethylene-isthen.placed over thetop of thefstackrand.the-*coverl section I5 is brought to the closed position as shown in Fig. 6 so as fully to compress together the opposed edges of the films 23, 24 between the opposing edges I8 and 20. Excess portions of the films 23 and 24 are trimmed away and then a radiant heater, indicated-tdiagrammatically at 25'in Fig'. 6, is used to' form a'beadseal between the opposed edges of the films 23 and 24, as indicated at I2. It will be noted that the channel member 2I serves to maintain the stack of tissues 6 under compression during this packaging operation;-

Altliougl'l several different commercially available iilms may'beused for forming the envelope I0 and' may be heat sealed, polyethylene is unique'in the .formation of a bead type seal when opposededges of this type of film are radiantly heated. Furthermore,. polyethylene lm has elasticity or stretchability characteristics which 'serveto maintainfthe stack of tissues atproper compression within 'the envelope I ll.

It will be understood that those skilled linthe art will be able to vvmanufacture the packages' 5 using other equipment and methods than those described in=connection with Figs. 5 and 6.

While-the invention has been speciiically describedin connection with the packaging of cellulosic cleansing tissues, it will be appreciated that it isapplicable to' the'packaging of other items of alike'nature.

It willbe apparent thatcertain obvious modicationsf may be made in the specific-embodiment of the invention described'above and shown in the accompanying drawings'. For example, the reinforcing bead seal I2 may be located at any'elevation in theslde wall of theenvelop'e.

Having fully described the invention and set forth the preferred embodimentsfthereof. what isvclaimed'as new is:`

A non-rigid package comprising, in combination, a stack of individually folded cellulosic cleansing tissues; a relatively rigidipanel'member onlthe bottom-of said stack, and-a snug fite ting-f envelope of polyethylenecompletely enveloping said stack and'panel member, said stack being essentially'in the form of a rectangular parallelepipedon, saidv film being weakened by perforations along.: a center line extending lengthwise 1acrossv the top 1of saidl stack and ter*- minating at oppositeends sofas not to extend downI-th'e opposite ends of saidstack, the bottom wall of saldi envelopel being joined to theremainder thereof which isl inthe form of a cover by means of a heat-formed bead extending peripherally` around the bottom of said package, saidenvelope-being stretched so as to maintain said stack compressed'to a degree which allows aA substantial'number of A:said individual tissues to bewithdrawnthrough' the slot provided by sep-| arating said'fllm along saidv weakened line while the 'remaining` tissues insaid stack will expand t'o'll up 'said'en'closure THOMAS'R. BAXTER.

References Cited inthe Ille ofAtliis patent UNl'IF-.ETDy STATESvv PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 12,1945 

